Algeria: Air Algerie plane with 116 on board 'missing'

Algiers, Algeria (PANA) - An MD-83 passenger plane owned by Algerian national flag career Air Algerie, with 116 people on board, has been declared missing by the operators, the Spanish company Swiftair, aviation sources said here Thursday.

The plane reportedly dropped off the radar shortly after taking off from Ouagadougou, capital of the West African nation of Burkina Faso, Thursday.

The flight was due to have arrived at its destination, the Houari Boumediene Airport in Algiers some four hours after its departure.

Though details are still sketchy, the twin-engine plane is said to be carrying 110 passengers and six crew, including two pilots.

Air Algerie said in a Twitter message that it has no latest information on the search.

PANA reports that Air Algérie operates scheduled international services to 39 destinations in 28 countries in Europe, North America, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, as well as domestic services to 32 airports.
-0- PANA SEG 24July2014